County & City Information Search
The United States is divided into 3,143 counties and county-equivalents (parishes in Louisiana, boroughs in Alaska, independent cities in Virginia), each of which serves as the primary administrative unit for property records, court filings, vital records, and local government services. Knowing which county a city belongs to is the essential first step in any public-records search. This directory helps you identify the correct county for any address, find official county websites, and access property and court records at the source. Updated March 2026.
Find Your County by City or ZIP Code
The most reliable way to identify the county for any address is to use the USPS ZIP Code lookup or the Census Bureau's geocoder:
- USPS ZIP Code Lookup — Enter a street address and retrieve the ZIP+4, county, and congressional district.
- U.S. Census Bureau Geocoder — Convert any address to FIPS county code, census tract, and block group — free and official.
- County Finder — Simple city-to-county lookup tool covering all 50 states.
- USA Today US County Map — Interactive map showing all 3,143 U.S. counties with demographics.
Official County Government Websites
Each county maintains an official website with links to the recorder, assessor, clerk, sheriff, and court. Use these portals for authoritative public-records searches:
- USA.gov – Find Local Governments — Authoritative directory of county and city government websites organized by state.
- National Association of Counties (NACo) – Counties Map — Interactive map of all U.S. counties with links to official sites.
- Netronline Public Records Online — Direct links to county assessors, recorders, clerks, and tax offices for property and court record searches.
County Property Records & Assessor Data
Property ownership, parcel maps, assessed values, and deed history are maintained at the county level. Most county assessors and recorders now offer free online search:
- Search for your county's assessor by visiting the county website (via NACo or USA.gov above).
- PropertyTax.com — Aggregated property tax and assessment data across multiple counties.
- USDA Farm Service Agency GIS — Aerial imagery and parcel data for agricultural areas.
- Regrid Parcel Data — National parcel data with map viewer; free basic searches, subscription for bulk data.
FIPS Codes & Census County Data
Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) codes uniquely identify every county in the U.S. They are used in government databases, court systems, and public-records platforms to eliminate ambiguity between counties with similar names (e.g., there are 34 counties named "Lincoln").
- U.S. Census Bureau – ANSI/FIPS Code Lists — Official FIPS codes for all states, counties, places, and congressional districts.
- Census QuickFacts by County — Population, income, housing, education, and race/ethnicity data for every U.S. county.
County Court Records
Civil, criminal, probate, and small-claims cases are typically filed at the county level (in state courts). To access court records:
- Visit the official county court website for online case search portals.
- CourtReference.com — Directory of state and county court websites with links to online dockets.
- PublicRecordCenter.com – Court Records Directory — Our full guide to searching state and federal court records.
- Judgments & Liens Search — Find judgment and lien records at the county and federal level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every city in the U.S. belong to a county?
Almost all do. The exceptions are Virginia's 38 independent cities (such as Richmond, Alexandria, and Norfolk), which are separate from any county. Alaska uses "boroughs" instead of counties, and Louisiana uses "parishes."
Why do I need to know the county for a public-records search?
Property records, court filings, vital records, and many government services are administered at the county (not city) level. Searching the wrong county — or an incorrect county name — returns no results even when the record exists.
What is a county seat?
A county seat is the city or town where the county government is headquartered, typically where the courthouse, county clerk's office, and recorder's office are located. The county seat is where you would physically file or retrieve records.
Can a city be in more than one county?
Yes. Large cities sometimes span county lines. For example, Kansas City, Missouri, spans both Jackson and Clay counties. Always use an address-level geocoder rather than just a city name when searching property or court records.
How many counties does the U.S. have?
As of 2026, the U.S. has 3,143 counties and county-equivalents: 3,007 named "counties," 64 Louisiana parishes, 19 Alaska organized boroughs, 10 Alaska census areas, 41 Virginia independent cities, and 2 other county-equivalents (Washington D.C. and Kalawao County, HI).
Page updated: March 2026